Chiefs in Eastern Region attend workshop in Koforidua

Traditional rulers

Chiefs in the Eastern Region have attended a two-day workshop to keep them abreast of the new Chieftaincy Act to enable them to rerform their duties with maximum efficiency.

It was organised by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs in collaboration with the World Bank Judicial Service Project.

Daasebre Oti Boateng, President of the Regional House of Chiefs, indicated that so many things had changed under the new chieftaincy laws and there was the need for chiefs to acquire the new knowledge.

He said under the Act a chief cannot be destooled by just removing his sandals and slaughtering a sheep.

Daasebre Oti Boateng indicated that before a chief can be destooled under the Act, proper charges have to preferred against him at the House of Chiefs and the accused chief be given the opportunity to respond to them.

He, therefore, urged the chiefs to educate the youth on the new laws to prevent them from taking the law into their hands.

Daasebre Oti Boateng said chiefs must work towards maintaining peace at their Traditional Areas because having peace in the country depends largely on their efforts.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Member of Parliament (MP), for Subin, urged the participants to do away with outmoded cultural practices such as widowhood rites and female genital mutilation which are inimical to progress.

He mentioned offences under which a chief could be destooled as  a conviction for high treason, criminal offences spelt under the criminal code, such as stealing, fraud and dishonestly receiving among other offences.

Mr Boafo indicated that a chief cannot be destooled if he is only arrested by the Police, detained but freed and not convicted in a law court.

He mentioned chiefs recognized under the Chieftaincy Act as the Asantehene, Omanhene, Divisional Chiefs, Sub-Divisional Chiefs, Odikro and other chiefs recognized by the National House of Chiefs.

Mr Boafo said chieftaincy is a permanent institution and no government can abolish it, adding that, Parliament cannot make a law to recognize or de-recognize a chief.

“You do not need the recognition of any government to be a chief,” he explained. “Parliament cannot make any law regarding chieftaincy without consulting chiefs.

“Your authority is supreme and you should at all times send cases to the Judicial Committees of the Houses for adjudication.”

Source: GNA

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